Officer of the Month — March 2008

Officer Brian BobickDC METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has announced the selection of Officer Brian Bobick of the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department as its Officer of the Month for March 2008.

A police officer's uniform is a symbol. It identifies the community that the officer is sworn to serve and protect and symbolizes his or her commitment to its citizens. However, too often a police officer's uniform is a target for those determined to just "kill a cop."

On December 13, 2007, Brian Bobick and Michael Architzel, Bike Patrol Unit Officers from the Sixth District (6-D), responded to a radio report of a missing person. While en route, they stopped near an elementary school where a young woman was accompanying a group of children across the intersection. Immediately their attention was drawn to a double-parked black Cadillac whose operator was excessively revving the engine. Suddenly the driver put the vehicle in gear and sped toward the officers.

Instinctively and selflessly, Officer Bobick pushed his partner out of harm's way and took the full force of the vehicle's impact himself. Seriously injured, Officer Bobick was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he was initially listed as critical but in stable condition. Fortunately, his condition continues to improve; he is responding well to rehabilitation and is eager to get back to work.

An investigation found that that the driver of the vehicle was a 15-year-old juvenile whose record includes several felonious encounters with the law. In his statement to the police, the suspect admitted that his intent was to run down and inflict bodily harm to Officer Architzel for no other reason than his general disdain for law enforcement officers.

Every day across the nation, law enforcement officers come to the aid of citizens in need, selflessly putting their lives at risk to save others. Last December, Officer Bobick responded in a way that is simply instinctive to law enforcement professionals. In this case, however, the "citizen" he was protecting happened to be a fellow officer.

Officer Bobick began his law enforcement career in 1997 as a Deputy Sheriff with the Geauga County (OH) Sheriff's Office. In 2001, he relocated to the nation's capital and joined the ranks of the Metropolitan Police Department. After his recruit training, he was assigned to the Sixth Police District.

At 6D, Officer Bobick volunteered to supervise the community-oriented Bike Patrol Unit for Police Service Area 601. His leadership of the unit resulted in the successful training of other officers and in creating a bond of trust and respect with members of the community. He has worked tirelessly to make PSA 601 safer and more habitable for residents and visitors on his beat.

An active member of the Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge #1, Officer Bobick was honored by Chief Cathy Lanier as the Metropolitan Police Department's Officer of the Year for 2007.

Located in the nation's capital, the NLEOMF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers. The NLEOMF established the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 1991 and is now working to build the first-ever National Law Enforcement Museum. The NLEOMF Officer of the Month Program, which began in 1996, recognizes federal, state and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty. Officer Bobick and all of the 2008 Officers of the Month will be recognized during a special ceremony in Washington, DC, in May 2009 during National Police Week.